Electric train-line coupler



Nov. 30, 1926.

1,608,732 c. c. FARMER v Y ELECTRIC TRAIN LINE COUPLER Filed Nov. 291921' 2 sneaks-sheet 1 smm INVENTOR CLYDE C. FARMER BY 4K0/ ATTORNEYNov. 3o, 1926. 1,608,732

c. c. FARMER l ELECTRIC TRAIN LINE COUPLER Filed Nov. 29, 192] 2Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR Y v CLYDEG.FARMEF? ATTORNEY www@ Patented Nov.30, 1926.

LIMITEE STATES CLYIDE C. .-"EARCIVIERj OF PITTSBURGH,PElil`.l.\Tf:"-2Y]lV'AItIIi ASSIGNGR TO TI'IE IVEETING- HOUSE AIR BRAKECOMPANY, OF INIIJMERDING', TEliIISYLITAI-IIA, A CORPGRATIQN FPENNSYLVANIA.

ELECTRIC TEAIN-LINE CCUPLER.

Application filed November 29, 1921. Serial No. Ell.

This invention relates to electric train line couplers adapted moreparticularly for connecting electric train line circuits between cars ofa train.

The principal object of my invention is to improve on and simplify theconstruction of an electric train line coupler of the type disclosed inthe pending` application of I-I. F. VVoernley, Serial No. 474,061, filedJune In the accompanying drawings; Fig. 1 is a plan view, partlysectioned, of an electric train line coupler embodying my invention andshowing the parts in release position; Fig. 2 an elevational viewthereof. partly sectioned and partly broken away; Fig. 3 a plan viewsimilar to Fig. 1, showing the contact carrier projected and engagingthe contact carrier of a counterpart coupler head; and Fig. 4 a faceview of the contact carrier or slide.

As shown in the drawings, the coupler head may comprise a casing 1,within which is mounted a movable contact carrier or slide 2 havinglongitudinal Iduide members 3 working in correspondin ,cuideways formedin the casing, as shown more particularly in Fin; 4. Mounted in thecontact carrier 2 are electric contacts 4` which are connected to t-heelectric train line circuits 5 and are adapted to engage corresponding'contacts of a counterpart coupler head.

The slide 2 is provided with a rearwardly extending' plunger 6. locatedon the central longitudinal axis of the slide and mounted in a fixedbearing member 7. carried by the casingI 1. Interposed between themember 7 and the slide 2 and concentric with the plunger 6 are coilsprings 8 and 9 for projecting the contact carrier.

The rear end of the plunger 6 is pivotally connected.y through a link 10to a lever 11, one end of which is pivotally mounted on a bracket 12 andhaving the other end pivotally connected through a linlr 13 to a piston14. Said piston is mounted in a cylinder 15 having a passage 16 throughwhich fluid under pressure for operating` the piston is supplied to thecylinder. A trip arm 17 is pivotally connected to piston 14.y the outerend of which is provided with a hook 18 for engaging a pin 19, when theparts are moved to the position in which the springs 8 and 9 arecompressed and for tripping the arm 17 from engagement with the pin 19,a piston 2O 1s provided having a stem 21 adapted to engage the arm 17. Aflat spring` scoured at one end to the piston 14, engages the arm 1'?and tends to maintain the arm in position for operation.

In operation, the slide projecting springs 8 and 9 are compressed bysupplying fluid under pressure through passage 16 to the cylinder 15.The piston 14 is then actuated so as to cause the lever 11 to pull theplunger 6 rearwardly and thus compress the springs. In the finalmovement. the hook 15S-passes under the pin 19 and then moved by thespring 22 to engage the pin and loclr the parts in position with thesprings 8 and 9 compressed as shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings.

When cars are brought together and it is desired to connect the electriccircuits between cars, fluid under pressure is supplied to piston 2O sothat said piston is operated to move the stem 21 and thereby cause thearm 17 to be released from engagement with the pin 19. The springs 8 and9 are then free to act, so that the compressive force of the springsoperates to project the contact carrier 2 and cause the contacts 4 toengage corresponding` contacts of a counterpart coupler head, as shownin 3 of the drawings, it beine' understood that fluid supplied to piston14 on one car is also supplied through engaging tappets to the cylinderof the counterpart coupler head on the adjacent car as in the pending"application of H.. I?. Woernley, liereinbeiore referred to.

The contact carrier 2 is retracted when fluid under pressure is suppliedto cylinder 15 for operating; the lever 11 to effect the compression ofthe springs 8 and 9.3 and the cars may then be separated.

By locating` the compression springs centrally of the contact slide adirect application of the force of the springs to the slide is provided,obviatinp; any tendency of the slide to bind and stick in thel`quideways. The construction also permits ot reducing the number ofparts requireth thus lowering' the cost of manufacture.

Having; now described my invention. what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is:

1. An electric train line coupler comprising a. casino7 a movableContact carrier mounted in said casing, a spring engaging said carrierat the central ionpgitudinal axis' and tending to project saine Whencoinpressed, ineans includinga piston operated by iiuid under pressurefor compressing said spring, means for iocliing said spring undercompression, and means for tripping' said locking means to permit theprojection of said Contact carrier by the compressive torce of saidspring. Y

2. An electric train line coupler comprising a casing, a n'iovaloieContact Carrier mounted therein7 a plunger connected to said carrier atthe @entrai longitudinali axis thereof, and a coii spring` surroundingsaid' plunger and acting on said carrier to project same, thecompressive Yforce oit' the spring being employed to project the Contactcarrier in the act of coupling.

3. An electric train line coupler coinprising a casing, a movablecontact carrier mounted therein, a plunger carried by said Contactcarrier, a xed abutment, a coil spring surrounding said plunger andinterposed between the iixed abutmentk and the Contact carrier, a leverconnected to said plunger, and ineans associated with said le- Vver forcompressing the spring, the compressive lforce of the spring.,` being.en'iployed'to project the contaet'carrier inthe act of coupling.

ln testimony whereof 'l have hereunto se!4 iny hand. W a

GLYDE G. FARMER.

